AN ACT relating to hospital emergency departments.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 216B to require hospitals that offer emergency medical services to have at least 1 licensed board certified or board eligible emergency medicine physician on site and on duty who is responsible for the emergency department at all times the emergency department is open.

Introduced: January 7, 2026

Last action: January 14, 2026

To Health Services (H)

Read the full text Kentucky Legislature LegiScan

AI-generated — always verify with primary sources

Plain-language summary

Beta

This bill would require Kentucky hospitals with emergency departments to have at least one board-certified or board-eligible emergency medicine physician on site and on duty whenever the emergency department is open. Currently, no such requirement exists under this chapter of state law. The goal is to ensure a qualified emergency medicine specialist is always present and responsible for emergency care. Who it may affect: Kentuckians who visit hospital emergency departments, as well as hospitals and the physicians who staff them.

Open official bill text (PDF)·Report a problem with the summary